Whanganui clinical psychologist climbing Mt Kilimanjaro in support of mental health

Whanganui's Honey Abraham is raising money to climb Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania as a way to raise mental health awareness.

Whanganui clinical psychologist Honey Abraham has for years been telling her clients to be courageous - now she is putting her words into action by climbing Mt Kilimanjaro to raise awareness of mental health.

The 34-year-old, hailing from Port Elizabeth, South Africa, has talked the talk as a clinical psychologist at Whanganui Hospital and now the time has come to walk the walk.

Abraham has lived in Whanganui for nearly three years after moving from South Africa and loves the life-changing move.

“My partner and I immigrated for a new life and came straight to Whanganui and we’re enjoying everything,” she said.

“Whanganui was sold to us because we love nature. You have access to rivers, the ocean, mountains and, honestly, we love it here.”

A year ago, the idea to take on Kilimanjaro was formed after speaking with her friend who is also a clinical psychologist.

“I was chatting to one of my friends in Bali and with the theme of [American academic and podcaster] Brené Brown’s [book] Daring Greatly - do stuff that scares you - we were talking about how we ask our clients all the time to do courageous stuff, to put themselves out there, to be vulnerable to change their lives but what are we actually doing?

“The first idea was do Mt Everest base camp, but we had to be realistic and was like, ‘fine what would be the next idea’.”

She and her friend landed on Mt Kilimanjaro and began their research.

They decided to take on Africa’s tallest mountain in July 2025 and will likely head up the northern circuit which takes an estimated eight or nine days to reach the summit.

The northern circuit is the longest route but allows climbers to better manage the impact of altitude sickness.

Abraham has been hiking her way throughout the North Island since arriving, ticking off Tauranga, Rotorua, Taranaki, Coromandel and Mt Ruapehu several times.

This will be a big step up in her mind.

“I think it will be a massive endeavour.

“I’ve been doing half-marathons and running for quite some time and it’s about the mind games and the wars you get into - I can’t imagine what I’m going to get into.”

She hoped to raise awareness of mental health and have money left over from fundraising to give to Women’s Refuge Whanganui.

Her motivation was for a couple of reasons close to her heart.

“The first reason would be my own mental health - no one is immune to it.

“In the past years, I’ve been fighting my own demons and trying to win that war but also, in my job, seeing other people going through their own, just being able to do this would be great.

“Every day I tell my clients to try their best and if I’m going to say that to them, then I have to do it myself.

“Also with what’s been happening with our young people - not just in New Zealand but all over - they’re struggling, they really are struggling, so if I could bring some sort of eye or view on mental health, even if it is a minute bit, why not?”

Abraham estimated she would need at least $9000 for flights, the trek and insurance.

To support Abraham, donations can be made through her Give A Little page https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/honey-climbs-mt-kilimanjaro-for-mental-health.